Fast food contains half children's daily calories
Watchdog warns fast food meals contain half children's recommended daily calorie intake
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Thursday, 24, Sep 2009 12:08
By inthenews.co.uk staff.
A new report has warned parents that fast food can contain half a child's daily calorie intake in one meal.
Consumer watchdog Which? has found children consume an average 947 calories at Burger King, 912 at KFC and 868 at McDonalds.
The calories weren't the only concern for Which?, who also discovered children who went to KFC ate two thirds of their guideline daily salt intake, and 11 to 14-year-olds consumed half of their guideline daily amount of sugar at McDonalds and Burger King.
The watchdog also said one in four children surveyed in the UK as part of the Consumers International survey on fast food marketing said they went to a fast food chain at least once a week.
Martyn Hocking, editor of Which? magazine, said: "It's really positive that fast food chains have made their children's meals healthier and added options like fruit and veg to the menu, but all too often kids go for options that are high in calories, fat, sugar and salt, particularly when they visit with their friends.
"We'd like to see all fast food restaurants providing nutritional information at the counter so that parents and older children know what they're eating."
The research showed a quarter of children who said they visited fast food outlets for a 'snack' actually ate a whole meal, which when added to their daily meal intake would take them above the recommended calorie, fat, salt and sugar levels.
Which? also said they had concerns about the use of toys to promote fast food, saying: "Both McDonalds and Burger King use toys and film promotions to market meals to children, which could encourage more frequent visits. Four in ten children aged eight to 11 said that McDonalds was their favourite fast food chain because of the toys and Happy Meals."